Looking Unto Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-10 KJV “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.”

In this passage, we are encouraged to lay aside sin, look to Jesus, and receive the Lord’s correction so that we may be holy. When we think of Jesus, we rightly think of his death, burial, and resurrection. But let’s go a step further to his ascension; Hebrews chapter seven tells us that Jesus makes intercession for us. What is Jesus in intercession for? Paul gives us a clue in his letter to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:19-22 KJV “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  21 in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Paul mentions apostles, prophets, and Jesus, who is the cornerstone. Later in his letter, he provides further insight in Chapter Four.

Ephesians 4:7-16 KJV “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

The purpose of the ministry gifts is for us to become like Christ. Look at Jesus’ words in Mark 10:42-45 KJV “Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Look again at Ephesians 4:13-16 ” till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

The purpose of leaders and the entire body is to help one another be conformed to Jesus, to be like Jesus, and to have a righteousness that exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees (Matt. 5:17-20).

This is what the process of sanctification is all about. Think back to Paul’s letters to the Corinthians; they came short in no gift, yet the sin in the church was unimaginable. The issue was not the gifts of the Spirit but a severe lack of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

It’s easy to take our eyes off Jesus. The Corinthian church did when they became preoccupied with the gifts instead of worshipping and honoring the one who bestowed the gifts to them. Peter became overwhelmed by a natural storm, took his focus off Jesus, and began to sink. How often do we let the storms of life take our eyes off Jesus and move us from a place of faith into fear?

How do we stay in a place of faith? How do we keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith? The first step is to be in the Word. I would encourage you to spend time in Ephesians, Hebrews, and the gospels. Actually, if you have never surrendered your life to Jesus, that is the first step. We all lean on our own understanding; we see ourselves as good people. However, the truth is that none of us lives up to God’s standard; we yield to our desires and violate God’s law. God sent His son to take our place, and Jesus paid for our sins. When we acknowledge our sin, turn away from it, and trust in Jesus, we become children of God. If you have never done that, you can right now by acknowledging your faults and sins and asking Jesus to forgive you and be your Lord. For Jesus to be Lord means He’s in charge, that He gets to guide your life.

The Bible is God’s path for our lives. When we meditate (think about, read, and pray), the Scriptures change us, and we become more like Jesus. Yes, we will make mistakes, but that’s why 1 John 1:9 says that if we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And if we repent, He’s faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When you sin, don’t run from God; run to Him.

Look to Jesus today in your Bible reading, in prayer, and in worship.